Hand-pad for writing purposes



(No Model.)

W. T. 111111111111. HAND PAD POR WRITING PURPOSES.

No. 565,765. Y Patented Aug. 11, 1896.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE WILLIAM THOMAS MARTIN, OF DAYTON, WASHINGTON.

HAND-PAD FOR WRITING PURPOSES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 565,765, dated August 11 1896.

Application filed February 20, 1896. Serial No. 580,074. (No model.)

T0 all whom it may concern.:

Be it known that LWILLIAM THOMAS MAR- TIN, of Dayton, in the county of Columbia and State of Washington, have invented a new and Improved Hand-Pad for Vriting Purposes', of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to a pad adapted to be iitted to the hand and to serve as a rest therefor during the operation of writing, or when similar movements of the hand are necessary.

The object of the invention is to so construct the said pad that it will be iitted to the hypothenar eminence of the hand and likewise to the inner margin of the thenar eminence or thumb-ball, and whereby, furthermore, an extension from the inner edge of the pad will be fitted to the palm of the hand, so that the pad will virtually remain in position on the hand by frictional contact, and by reason of the bearing of the hand on the pad and the bearing of the pad upon the support which would be otherwise provided `for the hand. The palm projection of the pad will enable a person to hold the pad on the hand while elevating the hand from its support, in order that a pen or other small object may be grasped by the forengers and thumb of the hand.

Another object of the invention is to provide a smooth and roller bearing for the handpad, and to impart to the pad a substantially cradle-like form, so that the hand and pad may together be freely rocked upon the support for the latter, as well as moved in any direction necessary to produce a predetermined stroke of the pen, pencil, or other article grasped between the lingers and thumb' of the hand.

The invention consists in the novel construction and combination of the several parts, as will be hereinafter fully set forth, and pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming apart of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures. Figure 1 is a perspective view of the improved hand-pad applied to the hand, and illustrating the operation of the same. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of one form of the pad,

viewed from the bottom.. through the pad shown in Fig. 2, the section being practically on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2; and Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view of the pad when received by the hand, the hand being shown in dotted lines.

The body A of the pad is of cup shape and of cradle-like construction; and it is provided at what may be termed its inner end with a tongue B or a similar extension from the body, the said tongue being shaped to engage with the palm of the hand and extend practically transversely across the same from the hypothenar eminence to the thenar eminence of the said hand, as shown in Fig. 4. The aforesaid tongue or extension B of the pad is preferably given a tapering form, and the inner extremity of the said tongue is usually given a downward curve more or less decided. y

The body portion of the pad is concaved or hollowed out in a manner which will enable the inner face ofl said body to iit snugly to the hypothenar eminence of thehand, and the inner or rear side edge 10 of the body and tongue B, when the pad is upon the hand, will skirt or will'practically follow the inner line of the thenar eminence or thumb-ball of the hand, or closely approach the same, so that the movement of the thumb will be unobstructed.

The pad is made of such width that considerable space will be between its forward side edge 12 and the root or base of the iingers, leaving the lingers likewise free to be moved in any desired direction. The extreme inner end edge portion 11 of the body of the pad will extend a predetermined distance over upon the wrist of the hand, as is likewise shown in the said Fig. l, and the upper outeredge portion of the body is curved inwardly, forming a bearing 13, as shownin Fig. 4, adapted to rest upon the back portion of the hand adjacent to the aforesaid hypothenar eminence.

At the bottom portion of the cradle-like body A of the pad a roller-bearing 14 is usually placed, and, as shown in Fig. 3, the said bearing is removable from the pad, being entered in a suitable slideway l5. The rollerbearng is especially adapted for advanced writers, and when the pad is employed by Fig. 3 is a section children, or by persons that are indifferent Writers, the roller-bearing is substituted by a foot 16, which may be made of any hard material, and is more or less diagonally located on the bottom of the body A. The foot 16, although being shown as securely attached to the cradle-like body of the pad, may be removably attached thereto in substantially the same manner as the roller-bearing 14:, and if in practice it is found desirable a second foot 17 may be secured to the said cradle-like body,

being at an angle to the foot 16, which is to engage With the support for the pad when in operation, and the second foot 17 may extend from the body partially along the under face of the tongue B, or the said second foot may be carried substantially the length of the said tongue, and will serve as a support for the body A When the fingers are not brought into use, at Which time the -foot 17 Will engage With the surface over which the pad is to be carried, instead of the main foot 16.

Any suitable material may be employed in the construction of this device, and it Will be made in sizes to accommodate the hands of children, Women, or men.

The'device is particularly adapted to give freedom of motion to the hand in Writing and to provide a proper support for said hand near the Wrist, at the same time admitting of perfect freedom in the manipulation of the fingers; therefore the device will tend to prevent the cramped form of Writing common to persons improperly instructed in the art.

When the improved pad is used, the Work of Writing is rendered less laborious and tiresome than under ordinary circumstances, and more rapld execution may be attained.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. A hand pad and rest, the same consisting of a cradle-like structure, provided on its upper surface With a recess adapted to fit the hand, said structure being also formed With a tongue extending transversely to engage the palm of the hand, as and for the purpose set forth.

2. A hand pad and rest, comprising a body portion of cradle-like construction having a bearing-surface upon its under face, its upper surface being dished to receive the hypothenar eminence of the hand, and a tongue projected from the inner side of the said body, shaped to receive the palm of the hand, the inner edge of the said tongue and adjacent portion of the body being so curved as to substantially clear the thenar eminence of the said hand, as and for the purpose specified.

A hand pad and rest, comprising a body portion of cradle-like construction having its upper face shaped or dished to receive the hypothenar eminence of the hand, the under surface of the body of the said pad being provided With a ball-bearin g, and a tongue projected from the inner side surface of the body, shaped to engage with the palm of the hand, and having its inner side edge together With the inner side edge of the body, curved to substantially clear the thenar eminence of the hand, as and for the purpose specified.

4. A hand pad and rest, comprising a body portion having its upper face dished in a manner to receive the hypothenar eminence of the hand, and its upper outer edge curved upward to extend over the back of the hand, the bottom of the body being provided With a bearing-surface, and a tongue extending from the inner side edge of the body, arranged for engagement With the palm of the hand and having its inner extremity downwardly curved, as set forth.

WILLIAM THOMAS MARTIN.

Witnesses WILL H. Fours, F. M. BATES. 

